Knightly News

“It feels like you’re a heavyweight fighter, and your eyes are swollen from being punched in the face.” Joe Reynolds, Episcopal drama teacher

Acting can be a challenging career. Drama teacher Joe Reynolds compares the constant auditions, rejections, long hours and determination to that of a professional boxer. He says such a tumultuous career is difficult, but after speaking with him, you realize he wouldn’t want it any other way.

Tucked away in the Black Box Theatre amid a leather couch, chairs, podiums and other pieces destined for the VPAC stage, you’ll find Reynolds. He joined the Episcopal arts department in 2017 at the recommendation of longtime friend Joe Chrest, husband of Episcopal dance teacher Christine Chrest. Leading up to his first day on campus, Reynolds’ Texas home was struck by lightning and caught on fire. On the way to Baton Rouge, his plane collided with another plane on the runway. These events took place in only two days. With a laugh, Reynolds assures that his life isn’t typically so exciting.

Reynolds grew up in Katy, Texas watching "Saturday Night Live" and idolizing Bill Murray. He loved sketch comedy, and in middle school, he mimicked what he saw Murray perform on the show. He earned a scholarship to the University of Texas to continue studying acting. Reynolds says being awarded the scholarship was certainly a confidence booster. “It was nice to have someone besides my mom appreciate what I was doing,” he says with a laugh. By junior year, Reynolds was introduced to more serious productions, including the works of Shakespeare and Arthur Miller. His confidence continued to grow, and upon graduation, it was decision time. Rather than try his hand in a smaller market, Reynolds decided to take on Los Angeles.

“This is going to be very hard.”

Reynolds says it was “doom and gloom” as soon as he arrived in Hollywood. He waited tables; he auditioned for plays; he tried to get noticed. “You start trying to survive,” he says looking back. He remembers people telling him that without credits or a union membership it would be very hard to break into the industry. After years in LA, Reynolds headed east to New York City. In New York, he landed several commercials. While it was an opportunity to make a living and gain experience, he said it just wasn’t what he wanted to do creatively. He set his sights on the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale.

Hundreds of eager actors apply to the Yale school of drama each year. The year that Reynolds applied only 16 were accepted, and he was one of them. As he tells the story of the moment the acceptance letter arrived, he animatedly acts out his reaction. “I felt like I had won the lottery,” he says enthusiastically. He was also in complete shock and says he walked around his apartment stretching and fidgeting because he couldn’t quite believe it at first.

Yale was a dream opportunity for Reynolds. The school brings together talented actors, directors, playwrights and designers in a focused, creative environment. “You work a lot,” says Reynolds. The team attended morning classes and rehearsed seven hours a day, working on new and classic plays. Even with such a confirmation of his talent, Reynolds credits luck with getting selected for the school, saying often it depends on what they are looking for at the time and whether they see that little something in potential students. He also points out that despite attending the school, he still had to audition, work hard and persevere like others in the business.

Perseverance, and maybe that sense of humor and wit that first attracted him to "Saturday Night Live," have paid off for Reynolds. He’s a member of the Screen Actors’ Guild, and he’s worked on film and television productions, including “Frasier” and “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.” Recently, he filmed two episodes of the Oprah Winfrey Network show “Queen Sugar.” He portrayed a farm auctioneer which required him to learn an auctioneer’s trademark swift delivery. With pride, he shares that some of his castmates thought he was actually a professional auctioneer after seeing him in action. That meant he had acted his part well.

In addition to acting, Reynolds has been a drama teacher for decades. He began teaching summer camps for high school students in Texas, and now 10 years later, he still teaches the program. He is an adjunct professor at Texas A&M at Commerce, and he has taught and directed plays at LSU. This semester, he is teaching an online arts administration class at Texas A&M. The class draws from his real-world experience as a company manager for a musical theater group. In the role, he oversaw the logistics for the 50-person group, including everything from housing and workers’ compensation to travel and human resources. “I was like the dad on the tour,” he says.

Here at Episcopal, Reynolds offers that same guidance and insight to Middle and Upper School aspiring actors. Three years ago, he began directing an annual straight play each fall to give students another opportunity to be involved in the arts. This year, 13 students will present “August: Osage County” by Tracy Letts. Reynolds says the production is much more ambitious than the previous productions, and audiences can expect to laugh, cry and be surprised by a special guest.

Reynolds is the ideal combination of teacher and artist. His education and experience are valuable resources for Episcopal students. We look forward to seeing what he and his crew accomplish this year.

Make plans now to attend "August: Osage Country" later this month.
September 28th and 29th at 7 pm in the VPAC
Tickets are $12.

Do you love the arts?

Join us for a celebration of 20 years of creativity in the Visual & Performing Arts Center!
Arts Fête
September 15th at 6:30 pm

This adults-only event will feature food, beverage, live music and student performances. Enjoy the sounds of the Captain Green Band and the Episcopal select and children’s choirs, dance ensemble, drum corps and visual artists. Tickets available here.

The Episcopal School of Baton Rouge 2024-2025 application is now available! ​For more information on the application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the private school, contact us at [email protected] or 225-755-2685.